Ampule storage container for dispensing ampules at a constant rate

• US 6,378,729 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yuyama Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kodama, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/985,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 179 Days
• Field of Search: 221/196, 221/194, 221/266, 221/263, 221/226, 221/232, 221/251, 414/416
• US Class Current: 221/196
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1407 the articles being fed from a container, e.g. a bowl

Abstract

A constant-rate ampule feed device which can smoothly and reliably feed packaged ampules one by one at a constant rate. In a container body, a storage space is formed that is capable of storing packaged ampules in a single row with their central trunk portions arranged in parallel to each other. On the inner surface of the storage space, protrusions elongated toward a dispensing port at the bottom end are provided. The trunk portions of the packaged ampules are guided by the protrusions so as to prevent clogging of the packaged ampules. A rotor is provided at the dispensing port. In the outer surface of the rotor, a groove for receiving part of a packaged ampule is formed. A step is formed on the inner surface of the groove. The step contacts the trunk portions of packaged ampules to prevent clogging of packaged ampules at the dispensing port when packaged ampules are dispensed.

Claims

1. A constant-rate ampule feed device comprising:

an ampule storage container for dispensing packaged ampules at a constant rate, said ampule storage container comprising a storage space which can store the packaged ampules that are packaged in a packaging material such that both ends of the packaging material are pressed flat, with central trunk portions of the packaged ampules arranged substantially parallel to each other, wherein a dispensing port for dispensing the packaged ampules is provided at one end of said storage space, and wherein the packaged ampules in said storage space are supported by the trunk portions of the packaged ampules with both flat ends thereof being maintained in a non-contact manner with respect to said storage space; and

a dispensing means provided at said dispensing port of said ampule storage container for dispensing the packaged ampules one at a time,

said dispensing means comprising a cylindrical rotor rotatable in one direction and a motor for driving said rotor, wherein said rotor is formed with a groove adapted to receive part of the packaged ampule, and a step for keeping the flat ends of the packaged ampules out of contact with the inner surface of the groove while contacting the trunk portion of the packaged ampules.

2. A constant-rate ampule feeding device for feeding packaged ampules each having flattened ends and a central trunk portion, said ampule feeding device comprising:

a container body;

a lid connected to said container body so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said container body and said lid define a storage space for storing a plurality of the packaged ampules so that the central trunk portions are arranged in parallel to one another;

a first elongated protrusion provided on an interior wall surface of said container body;

a second elongated protrusion provided on an interior wall surface of said lid, wherein said first and second elongated protrusions are positioned so as to be on opposite sides of the packaged ampules and to oppose the trunk portions of the packaged ampules so that the flattened ends of the packaged ampules are held in a non-contact state with respect to inner peripheral surfaces of said lid and said container body;

a base supporting an end of said container body, said base having a dispensing port communicating with an open end of the storage space; and

a packaged ampule dispensing device, provided in said base, for dispensing the packaged ampules one by one through the dispensing port.

3. The constant-rate ampule feeding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said packaged ampule dispensing device comprises a cylindrical rotor having a groove formed in an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a stepped portion provided on an inner surface of the groove, wherein the stepped portion is adapted to contact the central trunk portion of the packaged ampules to prevent the flattened portions from contacting the inner surface of the groove.

4. The constant-rate ampule feeding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said protrusions has a width that is formed so as to be slightly smaller than the length of the trunk portions of the packaged ampules.

5. The constant-rate ampule feeding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bottom end portion of said container body is detachably mounted in said base.

6. A constant-rate ampule feeding device for feeding packaged ampules each having flattened ends and a central trunk portion, said ampule feeding device comprising:

an ampule storage container having a pair of opposed, elongated interior wall surface elongated in one direction and defining a storage space for storing a plurality of the packaged ampules so that the central trunk portions are arranged in parallel to one another, and

a first elongated protrusion provided on one of said pair of interior wall surfaces to extend in said one direction, wherein said first protrusion is positioned so as to oppose and contact only the trunk portions of the packaged ampules with the packaged ampules arranged perpendicular to said one direction so that the flattened ends of the packaged ampules are held in a non-contact state with respect to said interior wall surfaces of said ampule storage container;

said ampule storage space having an open end at a longitudinal end thereof for dispensing the packaged ampules.

7. The constant-rate ampule feeding device of claim 6, further comprising a second elongated protrusion provided on the other of said pair of interior wall surfaces to extend in said one direction, wherein said second protrusion is positioned opposite to said first protrusion with the packaged ampules therebetween so as to oppose the trunk portions of the packaged ampules with the packaged ampules arranged perpendicular to said one direction.

8. A constant-rate ampule feeding device for feeding packaged ampules each having flattened ends and a central trunk portion, said ampule feeding device comprising:

an ampule storage contained having an elongated top interior wall surface elongated in one direction;

a conveyor belt provided under the elongated top wall so as to extend in the one direction,

said elongated top interior wall surface and said belt conveyor defining a storage space for storing a plurality of the packaged ampules such that the central trunk portions are arranged in parallel to one another,

wherein said conveyor belt is sized and positioned so as to oppose and support only the trunk portions of the packaged ampules so that the flattened ends of the packaged ampules are held in a non-contact state with respect to said interior wall surfaces of said ampule storage container; and

an elongated protrusion provided on said elongated top interior wall surface so as to extend in the one direction, wherein said protrusion is positioned opposite to said conveyor belt with the packaged ampules therebetween so as to oppose the trunk portions of the packaged ampules with the packaged ampules arranged perpendicular to the one direction,

said ampule storage space having an open end at a longitudinal end thereof for dispensing the packaged ampules.